Pope From the end of the Roman Empire, Doctor of the Incarnation, Saint Leo the Great illuminates the crisis of the 5th century by his firmness in faith and his pastoral foresight.
Facing fear without giving in to despair was the task of Saint Leo the Great. Born in Tuscany around 400, ordained a deacon before his election in 440, he guided Rome through the collapse of the Empire. By his words and his courage, he saved the city from the Huns, strengthened the doctrine of Christ as true God and true man, and made the See of Peter a source of communion. Today, his call to loyalty and to charity retains all its strength.
A pastor facing collapse
Leo was born in Etruria, a region of central Italy, at the end of the 4th century. His intelligence and prudence led him early on to serve as a deacon in Rome. In 440, upon the death of pope Sixtus III, he was chosen by the clergy and the people to succeed Peter on the seat, while he was on a diplomatic mission in Gaul.
His pontificate begins in a world in crisis. Imperial authority gradually crumbled under the onslaught of invasions: Vandals, Visigoths, Huns, and Burgundians ravaged Europe. Rome, once the capital of the Empire, was now but a shadow of its former self. Leo understood that beyond the crumbling walls, the soul of the people had to be saved.
Through his homilies and letters, he restored the faith of the faithful. He taught that faith rests on the full humanity and divinity of Christ: in him, God and man are united without confusion or separation. This message, expounded in his famous Volume to Flavien, became the cornerstone of the Council of Chalcedon in 451, which defined the heart of the Christian faith.
In 452, Leo traveled to Mantua to meet Attila, King of the Huns, who had come to threaten Rome. The meeting remains legendary: the popeWithout an army, he secured the conqueror's withdrawal. Three years later, he negotiated with Genseric the Vandal to prevent the massacre of the Roman population. He died on November 10, 461, leaving the Church a legacy of doctrinal clarity and pastoral courage. His remains rest near the tomb of Saint Peter.
When courage disarms fear
It is said that during the meeting between Leo and Attila, the King of the Huns saw behind the pope A celestial figure brandishing a sword recoiled in fear. The historical fact remains uncertain, but the symbol is powerful: faith and the word can overcome violence. This image, transmitted in mosaics and frescoes, embodies Leo's conviction: true authority arises from service, not domination.
Spiritual message
Saint Leo invites us to unite truth and charity. He never separates lived faith from concrete courage. In his troubled times, he made doctrine an act of peace: to reaffirm that God became man is to reaffirm that every human being has inviolable dignity. His example calls us not to flee from crises, but to respond to them with clarity and kindnessLike a lamp in the night, it shows that the right word illuminates more than it condemns.
Prayer
Lord Jesus,
You who made Leo a firm and merciful shepherd,
grant us to love the truth without pride and peace without weakness.
Strengthen our faith in times of trial.,
and make our words an instrument of reconciliation.
Through the intercession of Saint Leo the Great,
Make us attentive to the signs of your face in all humanity.
Amen.To live
- Read a passage from Saint Leo's homilies on Christmas and meditate on the dignity of man in God.
- To offer a gesture of peace to someone with whom dialogue has broken down.
- Take ten minutes of inner silence to reread the sentence: “The peace of God surpasses all understanding.”
Memory
The liturgical memorial of Saint Leo the Great is celebrated on November 10. His relics are kept near the tomb of Saint Peter in St. Peter's Basilica. His name adorns several parishes and cathedrals throughout Europe. In Rome, the altar of Saint Leo, decorated with 6th-century mosaics, recalls his role in the defense of the city. In Tuscany, Christians still come to entrust their prayers to his intercession. peace civil and loyalty from the Church to the truth.
Liturgy
- Readings / psalm: Wisdom 6:12-16; Psalm 62 (63); Gospel: Matthew 16:13-19 (“You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church”).
- Song / anthem: Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est.
